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YSR has big plans for old hospital land

Call to ease crowding at Rathifile bus complexHUDA to take up ORR with bank loan if consortia do not firm up proposals soonAuction of leftover plots from February 21

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Thursday directed officials to consider the proposal for developing the old Gandhi Hospital land adjoining Secunderabad Railway Station on the lines of Toronto railway station popular as Union Station, which was developed into a major terminus for commuters, commercial hub and parking facility.

He directed the authorities to explore the possibility of easing crowding of buses in the present Rathifile bus complex and heavy vehicular traffic on Secunderabad Station Road.

Outer Ring Road

The Chief Minister made the suggestions at a review meeting on various city projects with officials of the Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh and Department of Investment and Infrastructure officials on Thursday.

He made it clear that the first phase of Outer Ring Road should be grounded by April.

The HUDA authorities who are negotiating with various banks for a loan module of Rs. 500 crores required for the first phase of the ORR said that if consortia from various countries would not firm up their proposals soon enough, the first phase would be grounded with bank loan as directed by the Chief Minister.

"At present negotiations are on with half-a-dozen banks and the bank that offers the best interest rate and other terms will be finalised for the loan," said HUDA Vice-Chairman Jayesh Ranjan.

Fund-raising

Meanwhile, HUDA would auction leftover residential, commercial plots in HUDA layouts, including Nandagiri Hills, Miyapur, Saroornagar, Ramachandra Puram etc., to raise funds for land acquisition for the second phase of ORR.

The first phase of auctions would be held from February 21 for which notification had already been given.